JP2022086814A - Manufacturing apparatus for electrode for battery - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a manufacturing apparatus for an electrode for a battery, in which the uniformity of an active material layer formed on a current collector can be improved by suppressing the content of air in the active material.SOLUTION: A manufacturing apparatus 1000 for an electrode for a battery includes a first chamber 100 whose internal pressure is reduced to be lower than atmospheric pressure, an active material supply unit 700 that supplies a powder active material 32c onto a current collector 31B disposed in the first chamber 100, and a compression unit 800 that compresses the active material 32c supplied onto the current collector 31B. The active material supply unit 700 and the compression unit 800 are disposed in the first chamber 100.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing a battery electrode and a method for manufacturing the same.

In a lithium ion battery, generally, a positive electrode having a positive electrode active material layer formed on the surface of a positive electrode current collector and a negative electrode having a negative electrode active material layer formed on the surface of a negative electrode current collector are laminated via a separator. It is composed of. When manufacturing the electrode for a lithium ion battery, for example, as described in Patent Document 1, the active material is supplied onto the current collector and then the active material is compressed.

Japanese Patent No. 6633866

However, in Patent Document 1, the active material is supplied onto the current collector and then compressed in the atmosphere. When the active material is supplied to the current collector in the atmosphere, an active material layer containing air may be formed on the current collector. When the active material layer formed on the current collector is compressed in the atmosphere, the active material layer is compressed with the air remaining, so that the air expands after the compression and the active material is compressed. May pop up or cause problems such as the formation of irregularities on the surface of the active material. The electrodes used in a lithium-ion battery exhibit stable battery performance by uniformly forming an active material layer containing the active material supplied on the current collector, but in the conventional configuration, the above-mentioned problems are exhibited. It is difficult to suppress the above, and there is a possibility that the desired battery performance cannot be obtained.

The present invention provides an apparatus for manufacturing a battery electrode capable of suppressing the inclusion of air in the active material layer and improving the uniformity of the active material layer formed on the current collector, and a method for manufacturing the same. The purpose is.

In the device for manufacturing a battery electrode according to an aspect of the present invention, a powdery active material is placed on a first chamber whose inside is depressurized more than atmospheric pressure and a current collector arranged in the first chamber. The active material supply unit for supplying and the compression unit for compressing the active material supplied on the current collector are provided, and the active material supply unit and the compression unit are arranged in the first chamber. ..

The method for manufacturing a battery electrode according to one aspect of the present invention includes a step of supplying a powdery active material onto a current collector arranged in a first chamber whose inside is depressurized from atmospheric pressure, and the above-mentioned step. It has a step of compressing the active material supplied onto the current collector, and the supply of the active material to the current collector and the compression of the active material are performed in the first chamber. ..

According to the battery electrode manufacturing apparatus and the manufacturing method thereof of the present invention, when the active material is compressed, air is suppressed from being contained in the active material, and the active material layer formed on the current collector is uniform. It is possible to improve the sex.

It is sectional drawing of the cross section of the battery manufactured by using the manufacturing apparatus of the electrode for a battery of one Embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the single cell of the said battery. It is a perspective view which cut off a part of the manufacturing apparatus of the electrode for a battery of one Embodiment. It is a perspective view of the frame body supply device which constitutes the manufacturing apparatus of the electrode for the battery. It is a perspective view which partially cut through the active material supply apparatus and the 2nd compression apparatus which constitute the manufacturing apparatus of the electrode for the battery.

Hereinafter, an embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
In addition, in the drawings used in the following description, for the purpose of emphasizing the characteristic parts, the characteristic parts may be enlarged for convenience, and the dimensional ratios of each component may not be the same as the actual ones. do not have. In addition, for the same purpose, there are cases where non-characteristic parts are omitted.

<Battery (secondary battery)>
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a battery 10 manufactured by using the battery electrode manufacturing apparatus (hereinafter, abbreviated as manufacturing apparatus) of one embodiment.
The battery (secondary battery) 10 of the present embodiment is a lithium ion secondary battery which is a kind of non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery. Here, the lithium ion secondary battery is a secondary battery that charges or discharges by moving lithium ions between the positive electrode 30a and the negative electrode 30b. Hereinafter, when the positive electrode 30a and the negative electrode 30b are referred to without distinction, they are referred to as electrodes (battery electrodes) 30.

The battery 10 can also be applied to any conventionally known secondary battery such as a so-called parallel laminated battery in which electrodes are connected in parallel in a power generation element. In the following description, the lithium ion secondary battery is simply referred to as a "battery".

The battery 10 of the present embodiment has a power generation element 11, a positive electrode tab 34a, a negative electrode tab 34b, and an exterior body 12.

The positive electrode tab 34a comes into contact with the end face of the power generation element 11 on the positive electrode side. Similarly, the negative electrode tab 34b contacts the end face of the power generation element 11 on the negative electrode side. The positive electrode tab 34a and the negative electrode tab 34b are each pulled out to the outside of the exterior body 12. Highly conductive materials such as aluminum alloys and copper alloys are used for the positive electrode tabs 34a and the negative electrode tabs 34b.

The exterior body 12 seals the power generation element 11 inside in order to prevent an impact from the outside and environmental deterioration. The exterior body 12 is formed in a bag shape by, for example, a laminated film. As the exterior body 12, a metal can case or the like may be used.

The power generation element 11 of the battery 10 of the present embodiment has a plurality of single cells (battery cells) 20. In the power generation element 11, the plurality of single cells 20 are stacked in the thickness direction. The number of stacked single cells 20 is adjusted according to a desired voltage.

<Single cell (battery cell)>
FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the single cell 20.
The single cell 20 has a positive electrode 30a and a negative electrode 30b as two electrodes (battery electrodes), and a separator 40.

The separator 40 is arranged between the positive electrode 30a and the negative electrode 30b. In the power generation element 11, the plurality of single cells 20 are laminated with the positive electrode 30a and the negative electrode 30b oriented in the same direction. In the power generation element 11, the positive electrode tab 34a comes into contact with the positive electrode 30a of the single cell 20 arranged at the end on the positive electrode side in the stacking direction, and the negative electrode of the single cell 20 arranged at the end on the negative electrode side in the stacking direction. The negative electrode tab 34b comes into contact with 30b.

An electrolyte is held in the separator 40. As a result, the separator 40 functions as an electrolyte layer. The separator 40 is arranged between the electrode active material layer 32 of the positive electrode 30a and the negative electrode 30b, and prevents them from coming into contact with each other. As a result, the separator 40 functions as a partition wall between the positive electrode 30a and the negative electrode 30b.

Examples of the electrolyte held in the separator 40 include an electrolytic solution or a gel polymer electrolyte. By using these electrolytes, high lithium ion conductivity is ensured. Examples of the form of the separator include a separator of a porous sheet made of a polymer or fiber that absorbs and retains the electrolyte, a non-woven fabric separator, and the like.

The positive electrode 30a and the negative electrode 30b each have a current collector 31, an electrode active material layer 32, and a frame body 45, respectively. The electrode active material layer 32 and the current collector 31 are arranged in this order from the separator 40 side. The frame body 45 has a frame shape (annular shape). The frame 45 surrounds the periphery of the electrode active material layer 32. The frame body 45 of the positive electrode 30a and the frame body 45 of the negative electrode 30b are welded to each other and integrated.

In the following description, when the electrode active material layers 32 of the positive electrode 30a and the negative electrode 30b are distinguished from each other, they are referred to as a positive electrode active material layer 32a and a negative electrode active material layer 32b, respectively.

The frame body 45 prevents contact between the current collectors 31 and a short circuit at the end of the single cell 20. As the material constituting the frame body 45, any material having insulating property, sealing property (liquidtightness), heat resistance under the battery operating temperature and the like may be used, and a resin material is preferably adopted.

The current collector 31 is a conductive sheet-like member. The material constituting the current collector 31 is not particularly limited, and for example, a conductive resin or a metal can be used. From the viewpoint of weight reduction, the current collector 31 is preferably a resin current collector formed of a conductive resin. From the viewpoint of blocking the movement of lithium ions between the single cells 20, a metal layer may be provided on a part of the resin current collector 31.

Examples of the conductive resin constituting the resin collector 31 include a conductive polymer material or a non-conductive polymer material to which a conductive filler is added as needed. Examples of the conductive polymer material include polyaniline, polypyrrole, polythiophene, polyacetylene, polyparaphenylene, polyphenylene vinylene, polyoxadiazole and the like. Since such a conductive polymer material has sufficient conductivity without adding a conductive filler, it is advantageous in terms of facilitating the manufacturing process or reducing the weight of the current collector.

Examples of the non-conductive polymer material include polyethylene (PE; high density polyethylene (H).
DPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), etc.), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyether nitrile (PEN), polyimide (PI), polyamideimide (PAI), polyamide (PA), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), polyacrylonitrile (PAN), polymethylacrylate (PMA), polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVdF), or polystyrene (PS). ) And so on. Such non-conductive polymer materials may have excellent potential or solvent resistance.

The conductive filler can be used without particular limitation as long as it is a conductive substance. For example, materials having excellent conductivity, potential resistance, or lithium ion blocking property include metals and conductive carbon. The metal is not particularly limited, but at least one metal selected from the group consisting of nickel, titanium, aluminum, copper, platinum, iron, chromium, tin, zinc, indium, antimony, and potassium, or these metals. It is preferable to contain an alloy or a metal oxide containing. Further, the conductive carbon is not particularly limited. Preferably, from the group consisting of acetylene black, vulcan (registered trademark), black pearl (registered trademark), carbon nanofiber, Ketjen black (registered trademark), carbon nanotube (CNT), carbon nanohorn, carbon nanoballoon, and fullerene. It is preferable to include at least one selected.

The amount of the conductive filler added is not particularly limited as long as it can impart sufficient conductivity to the current collector 31, preferably about 5 to 35% by mass, and more preferably 10 to 30% by mass. Yes, more preferably 15 to 20% by mass.

When the current collector 31 is formed of a metal, examples of the metal include aluminum, nickel, iron, stainless steel, titanium, and copper. In addition to these, a clad material of nickel and aluminum, a clad material of copper and aluminum, or a plating material of these metals can be preferably used. Further, the foil may be a metal surface coated with aluminum. Of these, aluminum, stainless steel, copper, and nickel are preferable from the viewpoints of electron conductivity, battery operating potential, and adhesion of the negative electrode active material to the current collector 31 by sputtering.

The electrode active material layer 32 has electrode granulated particles (hereinafter, simply granulated particles) containing an electrode active material (positive electrode active material or negative electrode active material) and a conductive auxiliary agent. Further, the electrode active material layer 32 may further contain either one or both of the electrolytic solution and the pressure-sensitive adhesive, if necessary. Further, the electrode active material layer 32 may contain an ion conductive polymer or the like, if necessary.
In the following description, when the electrode active materials of the positive electrode active material layer 32a and the negative electrode active material layer 32b are distinguished from each other, they are referred to as a positive electrode active material and a negative electrode active material, respectively.

Examples of the positive electrode active material include LiMn ₂ O ₄ , LiCoO ₂ , LiNiO ₂ , Li (Ni—Mn—Co) O ₂ , and lithium such as those in which some of these transition metals are replaced by other elements. Examples thereof include transition metal composite oxides, lithium-transition metal phosphate compounds, and lithium-transition metal sulfate compounds. In some cases, two or more kinds of positive electrode active materials may be used in combination. Preferably, a lithium-transition metal composite oxide is used as the positive electrode active material from the viewpoint of capacity and output characteristics. More preferably, a composite oxide containing lithium and nickel is used. More preferably, Li (Ni-Mn-Co) O ₂ and a part of these transition metals are substituted with other elements (hereinafter referred to as "NMC composite oxide"), or lithium-nickel-cobalt-. Aluminum composite oxide or the like is used. The NMC composite oxide has a layered crystal structure in which a lithium atomic layer and a transition metal (Mn, Ni and Co are arranged in an orderly manner) atomic layer are alternately stacked via an oxygen atomic layer. Then, one Li atom is contained in each transition metal atom, and the amount of Li that can be taken out is twice that of the spinel-based lithium manganese oxide, that is, the supply capacity is doubled, and a high capacity can be obtained.

Examples of the negative electrode active material include carbon materials such as graphite (graphite), soft carbon, and hard carbon, lithium-transition metal composite oxides (for example, Li ₄ Ti ₅ O ₁₂ ), metal materials (tin, silicon), and lithium. Examples thereof include alloy-based negative electrode materials (for example, lithium-tin alloy, lithium-silicon alloy, lithium-aluminum alloy, lithium-aluminum-manganese alloy, etc.). In some cases, two or more kinds of negative electrode active materials may be used in combination. Preferably, from the viewpoint of capacity and output characteristics, a carbon material, a lithium-transition metal composite oxide, and a lithium alloy-based negative electrode material are preferably used as the negative electrode active material. Of course, a negative electrode active material other than the above may be used. Further, a coating resin such as a (meth) acrylate-based copolymer has a property of being particularly easy to adhere to a carbon material. Therefore, from the viewpoint of providing a structurally stable electrode material, it is preferable to use a carbon material as the negative electrode active material.

The conductive auxiliary agent can contribute to the improvement of the output characteristics at a high rate of the battery by forming an electron conduction path and reducing the electron transfer resistance of the electrode active material layer 32. The shape of the conductive auxiliary agent is preferably particulate or fibrous.

Conductive aids include, for example, metals such as aluminum, stainless steel, silver, gold, copper, titanium, alloys or metal oxides containing these metals; carbon fibers (specifically, vapor grown carbon fibers (VGCF)). , Carbon nanotubes (CNT), carbon nanofibers, carbon black (specifically, acetylene black, Ketjen black (registered trademark), furnace black, channel black, thermal lamp black, etc.). , Not limited to these. Further, a particulate ceramic material or a resin material coated with the above metal material by plating or the like can also be used as a conductive auxiliary agent. Among these conductive auxiliaries, from the viewpoint of electrical stability, it is preferable to contain at least one selected from the group consisting of aluminum, stainless steel, silver, gold, copper, titanium, and carbon, and aluminum, stainless steel. It is more preferable to contain at least one selected from the group consisting of silver, gold, and carbon, and even more preferably to contain at least one selected from the group consisting of carbon. Only one of these conductive aids may be used alone, or two or more thereof may be used in combination.

The electrolytic solution (liquid electrolyte) has a form in which a lithium salt is dissolved in a solvent. Examples of the solvent constituting the electrolytic solution of the present invention include carbonates such as ethylene carbonate (EC), propylene carbonate (PC), dimethyl carbonate (DMC), diethyl carbonate (DEC), and ethyl methyl carbonate. Lithium salts include lithium salts of inorganic acids such as LiPF ₆ , LiBF ₄ , LiSbF ₆ , LiAsF ₆ LiClO ₄ , Li [(FSO ₂ ) ₂ N] (LiFSI), LiN (CF ₃ SO ₂ ) ₂ , LiN ( Examples thereof include lithium salts of organic acids such as C ₂ F ₅ SO ₂ ) ₂ and LiC (CF ₃ SO ₂ ) ₃ . The concentration of the lithium salt in the electrolytic solution is preferably 0.1 to 3.0 M, more preferably 0.8 to 2.2 M. When the additive is used, the amount used is preferably 0.5 to 10% by mass, more preferably 0.5 to 5% by mass, based on 100% by mass of the electrolytic solution before the additive is added. be.

Examples of the additive include vinylene carbonate, methylvinylene carbonate, dimethylvinylene carbonate, phenylvinylene carbonate, diphenylvinylene carbonate, ethylvinylene carbonate, diethylvinylene carbonate, vinylethylene carbonate, 1,2-divinylethylenecarbonate, 1-methyl-. 1-vinylethylene carbonate, 1-methyl-2-vinylethylene carbonate, 1-ethyl-1-vinylethylenecarbonate, 1-ethyl-2-vinylethylenecarbonate, vinylvinylene carbonate, allylethylenecarbonate, vinyloxymethylethylenecarbonate, Allyloxymethylethylene carbonate, acrylicoxymethylethylene carbonate, methacryloxymethylethylene carbonate, ethynylethylene carbonate, propargylethylene carbonate, ethynyloxymethylethylene carbonate, propargyloxyethylene carbonate, methyleneethylene carbonate, 1,1-dimethyl-2-methylene Examples include ethylene carbonate. Of these, vinylene carbonate, methylvinylene carbonate and vinylethylene carbonate are preferable, and vinylene carbonate and vinylethylene carbonate are more preferable. Only one of these cyclic carbonic acid esters may be used alone, or two or more thereof may be used in combination.

Examples of the pressure-sensitive adhesive include (meth) acrylic acid ester-based pressure-sensitive adhesives such as Polythic (registered trademark) series. The content of the pressure-sensitive adhesive in the granulated particles is preferably 0.01 to 10% by mass, more preferably 0.01 to 8% by mass, based on the total mass of the solid content of the granulated particles. Yes, more preferably 0.1 to 5% by mass, and particularly preferably 0.1 to 3% by mass.

<Manufacturing equipment and manufacturing method of battery electrodes>
Next, a manufacturing apparatus of the present embodiment and a manufacturing method of a battery electrode (hereinafter, abbreviated as a manufacturing method) will be described. In the manufacturing apparatus and manufacturing method, the positive electrode 30a and the negative electrode 30b are first manufactured. The method for manufacturing the positive electrode 30a and the method for manufacturing the negative electrode 30b differ mainly in the electrode active material contained in the electrode active material layer 32. Here, as a method for manufacturing the electrode 30, a method for manufacturing the positive electrode 30a and the negative electrode 30b will be collectively described.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the manufacturing apparatus 1000. The manufacturing apparatus 1000 includes a first chamber (chamber) 100, a second chamber 200, a current collector supply device (current collector supply unit) 300, a transfer device 400, and a frame body supply device (frame body supply unit). It includes a 500, a first roll press 600, an active material supply device (active material supply unit) 700, a second roll press (compression unit) 800, and a control unit 900.

The first chamber 100 and the second chamber 200 are chambers in which the inside can be kept in a state where the pressure is lower than the atmospheric pressure. An observation window (viewing port) 101, which is a window formed of pressure-resistant glass, is provided on the side wall of the first chamber 100. Therefore, the inside of the first chamber 100 can be observed from the outside of the first chamber 100 through the observation window 101.
The inside of the first chamber 100 is depressurized more than the atmospheric pressure by a first decompression pump (not shown). The pressure inside the first chamber 100 may be any value as long as it is depressurized from the atmospheric pressure, but for example, it becomes a low vacuum environment from the atmospheric pressure to 1 × 10 ^-1 to 1 × 10 ^-2- Pa. It may be adjusted so as to have a high vacuum environment of 1 × 10 ^-6 to 1 × 10 ^-7 Pa, an ultra-high vacuum higher than that, or ^10-8 to 10 It may be an extremely high vacuum of ^-9 Pa level. The standard atmospheric pressure is about 1013 hPa ⁽ about 105 Pa).
The inside of the second chamber 200 is depressurized more than the atmospheric pressure by a second decompression pump (not shown). The pressure inside the second chamber 200 may be any value as long as it is depressurized from the atmospheric pressure, but for example, it becomes a low vacuum environment from the atmospheric pressure to 1 × 10 ^-1 to 1 × 10 ^-2 Pa. It may be adjusted so as to have a high vacuum environment of 1 × 10 ^-6 to 1 × 10 ^-7 Pa, an ultra-high vacuum higher than that, or ^10-8 to 10 It may be an extremely high vacuum of ^-9 Pa level. The pressure inside the second chamber 200 may be higher than the pressure inside the first chamber 100.

In the first chamber 100 and the second chamber 200, the current collector supply device 300 is arranged side by side in the transport direction D for transporting the band-shaped current collector 31B. The current collector 31B is the one before the current collector 31 is cut into a predetermined shape. The first chamber 100 is arranged on the downstream side D1 in the transport direction D from the second chamber 200.
The second chamber 200 is an anterior chamber. A slit 201 is formed on the side wall of the downstream side D1 in the second chamber 200. A slit (not shown) is formed on the side wall of the upstream side D2 opposite to the downstream side D1 in the second chamber 200. This slit is formed so as to face the slit 201 of the second chamber 200.

A current collector supply device 300 is arranged in the second chamber 200. In the first chamber 100, a transfer device 400, a frame supply device 500, a first roll press 600, an active material supply device 700, and a second roll press 800 are arranged.

The current collector supply device 300 supplies the current collector 31B into the first chamber 100. The current collector supply device 300 includes a roll holding unit (not shown), a splicer 310, and a feed roller 320.
A pair of current collector rolls 31R are held in the roll holding portion. The current collector roll 31R is a roll of the current collector 31B. The current collector roll 31R is appropriately deployed, and the current collector 31B is supplied from the current collector roll 31R. When one of the pair of current collector rolls 31R is fully deployed, the roll holding unit starts supplying the other of the pair of current collector rolls 31R.

The splicer 310 joins the ends of the current collector 31B to each other. When one of the current collector rolls 31R is fully deployed and all the current collectors 31B are supplied, the end of the current collector 31B finally moves toward the downstream side D1. This end and the start end of the current collector 31B in which one of the current collector rolls 31R is deployed are joined by a splicer 310. As a result, the plurality of current collectors 31B are continuously supplied into the first chamber 100 without interruption.

The feed roller 320 is provided on the downstream side D1 of the roll holding portion. The feed roller 320 is composed of a plurality of rotating members. The current collector 31B conveyed by the feed roller 320 moves along the plurality of rotating members. As a result, the current collector 31B is stably supplied into the first chamber 100 of the downstream side D1 without being loosened in the middle of the feed roller 320. The current collector supply device 300 supplies the current collector 31B at a predetermined speed.
It is preferable that a spare current collector roll 31R is arranged inside the second chamber 200.
The current collector 31B supplied from the current collector supply device 300 to the downstream side D1 is supplied to the inside of the second chamber 200 through the slit 201 of the second chamber 200 and the slit of the first chamber 100.

In this embodiment, all of the current collector supply devices 300 are arranged in the second chamber 200. The roll holding portion of the current collector supply device 300 may be arranged outside the second chamber 200. In this case, a part of the current collector supply device 300 is arranged in the second chamber 200.

For example, the transport device 400 is a known belt conveyor. The transfer device 400 includes a transfer roller 401. The transport roller 401 is arranged so that its rotation axis is along the horizontal plane and along the width direction E orthogonal to the transport direction D. The transfer device 400 transports the current collector 31B to the downstream side D1 inside the first chamber 100.
The frame supply device 500, the first roll press 600, the active material supply device 700, and the second roll press 800 are arranged side by side along the transfer device 400 from the upstream side D2 to the downstream side D1 in this order. ..

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the frame supply device 500. The frame supply device 500 is arranged on D2 on the upstream side of the active material supply device 700.
The frame body supply device 500 supplies the frame body 45 stacked on the side of the transfer device 400 inside the second chamber 200 onto the current collector 31B. The frame supply device 500 includes a robot arm 501, a holder 502, and a degassing tube 503.
The robot arm 501 has a known configuration in which a plurality of rods 506 are connected by joints 507. The base end portion of the robot arm 501 is fixed to the floor of the first chamber 100 or the like.

The holder 502 has a frame shape having the same size as the frame body 45. For example, the holder 502 includes a main body portion 510, an elastic portion 511, and a suction cup portion (not shown).
The main body portion 510 is a member having a U-shaped cross section having an opening on the lower surface side. Further, the opening of the main body portion 510 has a frame shape that matches the shape of the frame body 45.
The elastic portion 511 is provided so as to close the opening of the main body portion 510. The elastic portion 511 is a portion provided on the main body portion 510 and in contact with the frame body 45. Here, in order to attract the frame body 45 to the suction portion, the elastic portion 511 needs to be in close contact with the frame body 45 without a gap.
The suction cup portion is a portion of the elastic portion 511 that is provided at intervals on the surface of the elastic portion 511 in contact with the frame body 45 and has a thin wall thickness. Further, in the present embodiment, the suction cup portion is provided so as to be flush with the surface of the elastic portion 511 on the side in contact with the frame body 45 and to have a recess on the surface on the side of the main body portion 510.

The internal space at the first end of the degassing tube 503 is connected to the internal space of the main body 510. A decompression pump (not shown) is connected to the second end of the degassing tube 503 opposite to the first end. The decompression pump is provided with a valve for switching whether or not to exhaust the air in the internal space of the degassing pipe 503 connected to the decompression pump. The decompression pump is preferably located outside the second chamber 200.

In the frame body supply device 500 configured in this way, the decompression pump is driven in a state where the elastic portion 511 is in close contact with the frame body 45, and the valve is switched so that the air in the internal space of the degassing pipe 503 is discharged. .. Then, the air inside the holder 502 is discharged to the outside of the second chamber 200 through the degassing pipe 503 and the decompression pump. The air pressure in the holder 502 drops. As a result, a force is generated that attracts the elastic portion 511 to the inside of the main body portion 510. When this force is generated, the suction cup portion first moves to the inside of the main body portion 510.

Then, a force that creates a gap between the frame body 45 and the suction cup portion acts. On the other hand, the elastic portion 511 remains in contact with the frame body 45. The gap generated between the frame body 45 and the suction cup portion becomes a negative pressure. As a result, the frame body 45 is attracted by the suction cup portion of the holder 502, and the frame body 45 is gripped by maintaining this. Of the stacked frame bodies 45, the uppermost frame body 45 is held by the holder 502. The robot arm 501 is operated, and the held frame body 45 is placed on the current collector 31B. The frame body 45 is placed on the current collector 31B so that the thickness direction of the frame body 45 is along the vertical direction. When the valve is switched so that the air in the internal space of the degassing tube 503 is not discharged, the holder 502 is separated from the frame body 45 placed on the current collector 31B.
The frame body 45 placed on the current collector 31B is conveyed to the downstream side D1 together with the current collector 31B. For example, the frame body 45 is arranged on the current collector 31B without a gap in the transport direction D.

As shown in FIG. 3, the first roll press 600 has a pair of compression rollers 601 and a drive unit 602. The pair of compression rollers 601 are arranged so that their respective axes are along the horizontal plane. The pair of compression rollers 601 are arranged so as to face each other in the vertical direction. The drive unit 602 rotates a pair of compression rollers 601 around their respective axes. A current collector 31B and a frame body 45 are sandwiched between the pair of compression rollers 601. The drive unit 602 rotates a pair of compression rollers 601 so that the current collector 31B and the frame body 45 are conveyed to the downstream side D1.

The active material supply device 700 supplies the powdery active material 32c onto the current collector 31B arranged in the first chamber 100. The active material 32c means a plurality of electrode granulated particles containing an electrode active material and a conductive auxiliary agent.
As shown in FIG. 5, the active material supply device 700 includes a screw conveyor 710, an input chute 720, a discharge chute 730, a shutter unit 740, an ultrasonic vibrator 750, and a break-in brush 760. The input chute 720 and the discharge chute 730 form a hopper 770. The hopper 770 is arranged in the first chamber 100.
The screw conveyor 710 transports the active material 32c to the charging chute 720. One end of the screw conveyor 710 is connected to a storage portion (not shown) for the active material 32c, which is arranged outside the first chamber 100. Further, the other end of the screw conveyor 710 is connected to the charging chute 720.

The input chute 720 drops the active material 32c carried from the screw conveyor 710 into the discharge chute 730.
The discharge chute 730 has a cylindrical shape extending in the vertical direction. An opening 731 is formed at the lower end of the discharge chute 730. The discharge chute 730 is arranged below the input chute 720. That is, an opening 731 is formed at the lower end of the hopper 770. The opening 731 is formed along a horizontal plane.
The hopper 770 is arranged above the transport device 400. In other words, the hopper 770 is arranged above the current collector 31B and the frame 45 transported by the transport device 400. The opening 731 supplies the active material 32c (toward the current collector 31B) onto the current collector 31B arranged in the first chamber 100. The active material 32c carried from the screw conveyor 710 to the input chute 720 freely falls into the discharge chute 730. The active material 32c is housed inside the hopper 770.
When the active material 32c is in the form of a lump on the screw conveyor 710, the active material supply device 700 may include a crusher for crushing the agglomerated active material 32c.

The shutter unit 740 includes a first shutter door (shutter) 741, a second shutter door (shutter) 742, a first opening / closing mechanism (opening / closing mechanism) 743, and a second opening / closing mechanism (opening / closing mechanism, not shown). Have.
The shutter doors 741 and 742 are flat plates, respectively. The shutter doors 741 and 742 are arranged along the horizontal plane, respectively. The second shutter door 742 is arranged on the downstream side D1 of the first shutter door 741. The shutter doors 741 and 742 open and close the opening 731 of the discharge chute 730. Here, the fact that the shutter doors 741 and 742 open the opening 731 means that the shutter doors 741 and 742 are in a state of not covering at least a part of the opening 731. When the shutter doors 741 and 742 close the opening 731, it means that the shutter doors 741 and 742 are in a state of completely closing the opening 731.

The first opening / closing mechanism 743 includes a motor 745 and an arm 746. In the motor 745, the rotating shaft 748 rotates about the axis of the rotating shaft 748 with respect to the main body 747. A male screw is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft 748. The motor 745 is arranged so that the rotating shaft 748 extends in the transport direction D. The main body 747 is fixed to the floor of the first chamber 100 or the like.
A female screw (not shown) is formed at the first end of the arm 746. This female screw is fitted to the male screw of the rotating shaft 748 of the motor 745. The second end of the arm 746, which is opposite to the first end, is fixed to the upper surface of the first shutter door 741.

In the first shutter door 741 and the first opening / closing mechanism 743 configured as described above, for example, when a voltage is applied to the motor 745 in a predetermined direction, the rotating shaft 748 rotates in a predetermined direction. The first shutter door 741 connected to the rotating shaft 748 via the arm 746 moves to the downstream side D1. Similarly, when a voltage is applied to the motor 745 in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction, the rotating shaft 748 rotates in the opposite direction in the predetermined direction. The first shutter door 741 moves to the upstream side D2. In this way, the first opening / closing mechanism 743 conveys the first shutter door 741 in the conveying direction D.
The second opening / closing mechanism is configured in the same manner as the first opening / closing mechanism 743. By the second opening / closing mechanism, the second shutter door 742 can move to the downstream side D1 and the upstream side D2 independently of the first shutter door 741.

The ultrasonic vibrator 750 is provided on the outer wall below the discharge chute 730. That is, the ultrasonic vibrator 750 is provided outside the portion of the discharge chute 730 where the active material 32c is deposited. The ultrasonic vibrator 750 vibrates the active material 32c deposited on the lower part of the discharge chute 730 by generating ultrasonic waves. The ultrasonic vibrator 750 has a role of uniformly leveling the active material 32c deposited in the discharge chute 730.

The break-in brush 760 is moved along a horizontal plane by a motor (not shown). The break-in brush 760 has a role of flattening the upper surface of the active material 32c deposited in the discharge chute 730.
As described above, in the present embodiment, a part of the active material supply device 700 having the opening 731 is arranged in the first chamber 100.
The active material supply device 700 may have at least an opening 731 arranged in the first chamber 100. The entire active material supply device 700 may be arranged in the first chamber 100.

The active material supply device 700 is controlled so that the shutter doors 741 and 742 are opened when the internal space 45a of the frame body 45 is located below the opening 731. As a result, the active material 32c supplied from the opening 731 is arranged on the current collector 31B in the internal space 45a (inside the frame 45) of the frame 45 with a first thickness. In this way, the active material supply device 700 supplies the active material 32c into the frame body 45 provided on the current collector 31B. For example, the first thickness is thicker than the thickness of the frame body 45.
To match the opening timing of the shutter doors 741 and 742 when the internal space 45a of the frame body 45 is located below the opening 731, the transport speed of the transport device 400, the length of the transport direction D of the frame body 45, etc. A known time control or the like is used in consideration of the above. The manufacturing apparatus 1000 may include a position sensor that detects the position of the frame body 45 in the transport direction D. Then, based on the position of the frame body 45 detected by the position sensor, the control unit 900 may adjust the timing at which the shutter doors 741 and 742 are opened by the first opening / closing mechanism 743 and the second opening / closing mechanism.

The second roll press 800 compresses the active material 32c supplied onto the current collector 31B. The second roll press 800 is configured in the same manner as the first roll press 600. The second roll press 800 has a pair of compression rollers 801 and a drive unit 802. A current collector 31B, a frame body 45, and an active material 32c are sandwiched between the pair of compression rollers 801.
The second roll press 800 compresses the active material 32c of the first thickness to a second thickness thinner than the first thickness. For example, the second thickness is the thickness of the frame body 45.
The configurations of the first roll press 600 and the second roll press 800 are not limited to these.

The control unit 900 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit) (not shown) and a memory. A control program for operating the CPU, various data, and the like are stored in the memory. The control unit 900 is connected to a first opening / closing mechanism 743, a second opening / closing mechanism, and the like. The control unit 900 controls the first opening / closing mechanism 743, the second opening / closing mechanism, and the like.

In the manufacturing method of the present embodiment, first, the frame body 45 is supplied onto the current collector 31B arranged in the first chamber 100 whose inside is depressurized from the atmospheric pressure. The active material 32c is supplied to the internal space (inside) 45a of the frame body 45 on the current collector 31B. That is, the frame body 45 is supplied by D2 on the upstream side of the supply of the active material 32c to the current collector 31B. Then, the active material 32c supplied to the internal space 45a of the frame body 45 on the current collector 31B is compressed.
The supply of the frame 45 to the current collector 31B, the supply of the active material 32c to the current collector 31B, and the compression of the active material 32c are performed in the first chamber 100.

The electrode 30 is manufactured by appropriately cutting out the current collector 31 from the band-shaped current collector 31B. A single cell 20 is manufactured by laminating a pair of electrodes 30 (that is, a positive electrode 30a and a negative electrode 30b) so as to face each other via a separator 40. The battery 10 is manufactured by stacking a plurality of single cells 20 in the thickness direction and sealing the plurality of single cells 20 with the exterior body 12.
Even when sealing with the exterior body 12, the expansion of the air contained in the active material 32c is suppressed.

As described above, according to the manufacturing apparatus 1000 of the present embodiment, the active material supply apparatus 700 and the second roll press 800 are arranged in the first chamber 100 whose inside is depressurized from the atmospheric pressure. Therefore, when the active material 32c is supplied onto the current collector 31B and when the active material 32c supplied on the current collector 31B is compressed, it is difficult for the active material 32c to contain air. Therefore, when the active material 32c is compressed, it is possible to suppress the inclusion of air in the active material 32c and improve the uniformity of the active material 32c formed on the current collector 31B.
Further, according to the manufacturing method of the present embodiment, when the active material 32c is supplied onto the current collector 31B and when the active material 32c supplied on the current collector 31B is compressed, the active material 32c is used. It is hard to contain air. Therefore, when the active material 32c is compressed, it is possible to suppress the inclusion of air in the active material 32c and improve the uniformity of the active material 32c formed on the current collector 31B.
In the manufacturing apparatus 1000 and the manufacturing method of the present embodiment, the active material 32c supplied on the current collector 31B is roll-pressed without using a binder. Therefore, there is an advantage that the powder does not fly in the first chamber 100.

The manufacturing device 1000 includes a frame supply device 500 arranged in the first chamber 100. Then, in the manufacturing method, the frame body 45 is supplied onto the current collector 31B in the first chamber 100. As a result, the active material 32c can be stored in the internal space 45a of the frame body 45, and the active material 32c can be prevented from spilling from the current collector 31B.
The frame supply device 500 is arranged on D2 on the upstream side of the active material supply device 700, and the active material 32c supplied onto the current collector 31B is supplied to the internal space 45a of the frame body 45. In the manufacturing method, the frame 45 is supplied on the upstream side D2 of the current collector 31B on the upstream side D2, the active material 32c is supplied to the internal space 45a of the frame 45, and the active material 32c is supplied. To compress. As a result, the active material 32c supplied to the internal space 45a of the frame body 45 in order to prevent it from spilling from the current collector 31B can be compressed.

The active material 32c arranged at the first thickness on the current collector 31B can be compressed to a second thickness thinner than the first thickness by the second roll press 800.
The manufacturing apparatus 1000 includes a second chamber 200 and a current collector supply device 300 arranged in the second chamber 200. Therefore, the current collector 31B in which the active material 32c is arranged on itself is previously exposed to an environment depressurized from the atmospheric pressure in the second chamber 200, and air is sent to the active material 32c via the current collector 31B. Can be suppressed from being included. It is possible to prevent air from entering the first chamber 100 from the current collector supply device 300.

The current collector supply device 300 continuously supplies the current collector 31B into the first chamber 100 by joining the ends of the band-shaped current collector 31B to each other. Therefore, the current collector 31B can be continuously supplied into the first chamber 100.
The pressure inside the second chamber 200 is higher than the pressure inside the first chamber 100. Therefore, the electric power required to reduce the pressure in the second chamber 200 can be reduced as compared with the case where the pressure inside the second chamber 200 is equal to the pressure inside the first chamber 100.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and the configuration is changed, combined, or deleted without departing from the gist of the present invention. Etc. are also included.
For example, in the above embodiment, the pressure inside the second chamber 200 may be equal to the pressure inside the first chamber 100.
The current collector supply device 300 does not have to include the splicer 310. In this case, the ends of the current collectors 31B are not joined to each other.
The frame supply device 500 may be arranged on the downstream side D1 of the active material supply device 700. In this case, the active material 32c is supplied onto the current collector 31B, and then the frame body 45 is supplied onto the current collector 31B.
The manufacturing device 1000 may not include the second chamber 200, the current collector supply device 300, the transfer device 400, the frame body supply device 500, the first roll press 600, and the control unit 900. In this case, in the manufacturing method, the step of supplying the frame body 45 on the current collector 31B and the step of supplying the active material 32c to the internal space 45a of the frame body 45 are not performed.

31B Current collector 32c Active material 45 Frame body 100 1st chamber 200 2nd chamber 300 Current collector supply device (current collector supply unit)
500 Frame supply device (frame supply unit)
700 Active material supply device (active material supply unit)
800 2nd roll press (compression part)
1000 Manufacturing equipment (Battery electrode manufacturing equipment)
D2 upstream side

The splicer 310 joins the ends of the current collector 31B to each other. When one of the current collector rolls 31R is fully deployed and all the current collectors 31B are supplied, the end of the current collector 31B finally moves toward the downstream side D1. This end and the start end of the current collector 31B in which the other current collector roll 31R is deployed are joined by a splicer 310. As a result, the plurality of current collectors 31B are continuously supplied into the first chamber 100 without interruption.

As described above, according to the manufacturing apparatus 1000 of the present embodiment, the active material supply apparatus 700 and the second roll press 800 are arranged in the first chamber 100 whose inside is depressurized from the atmospheric pressure. Therefore, when the active material 32c is supplied onto the current collector 31B and when the active material 32c supplied on the current collector 31B is compressed, it is difficult for the active material 32c to contain air. Therefore, when the active material 32c is compressed, it is possible to suppress the inclusion of air in the active material 32c and improve the uniformity of the active material 32c formed on the current collector 31B.
Further, according to the manufacturing method of the present embodiment, when the active material 32c is supplied onto the current collector 31B and when the active material 32c supplied on the current collector 31B is compressed, the active material 32c is used. It is hard to contain air. Therefore, when the active material 32c is compressed, it is possible to suppress the inclusion of air in the active material 32c and improve the uniformity of the active material 32c formed on the current collector 31B.
In the manufacturing apparatus 1000 and the manufacturing method of the present embodiment, the active material 32c supplied on the current collector 31B is roll-pressed without using a binder. Therefore, there is an advantage that the powder does not fly in the first chamber 100.

Claims (10)

The first chamber, where the inside is decompressed more than atmospheric pressure,
An active material supply unit that supplies a powdery active material onto a current collector arranged in the first chamber, and an active material supply unit.
A compression unit for compressing the active material supplied onto the current collector is provided.
A battery electrode manufacturing apparatus in which the active material supply unit and the compression unit are arranged in the first chamber. A frame body supply unit for supplying an annular frame body is provided on the current collector.
The battery electrode manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the frame supply unit is arranged in the first chamber. The frame supply unit is arranged on the upstream side of the active material supply unit.
The device for manufacturing a battery electrode according to claim 2, wherein the active material supplied onto the current collector is supplied into the frame. The current collector is supplied into the first chamber at a predetermined speed.
The active material supplied from the active material supply unit is arranged on the current collector with a first thickness.
The battery electrode according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the compression unit compresses the active material having the first thickness to a second thickness thinner than the first thickness. Manufacturing equipment. The inside is decompressed more than the atmospheric pressure, and the second chamber arranged side by side in the first chamber and
A current collector supply unit, which is at least partially arranged in the second chamber and supplies the current collector into the first chamber,
The apparatus for manufacturing a battery electrode according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The battery electrode according to claim 5, wherein the current collector supply unit continuously supplies the current collector into the first chamber by joining the ends of the band-shaped current collectors to each other. Manufacturing equipment. The device for manufacturing a battery electrode according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the pressure inside the second chamber is higher than the pressure inside the first chamber. A process of supplying a powdery active material onto a current collector arranged in a first chamber whose inside is depressurized from atmospheric pressure.
It has a step of compressing the active material supplied onto the current collector.
A method for manufacturing a battery electrode, wherein the supply of the active material to the current collector and the compression of the active material are performed in the first chamber. Further, a step of supplying an annular frame body on the current collector is provided.
The method for manufacturing a battery electrode according to claim 8, wherein the frame is supplied in the first chamber. The frame body is supplied on the upstream side of the supply of the active material to the current collector.
The active material is supplied to the inside of the frame, and the active material is supplied.
The method for manufacturing a battery electrode according to claim 9, wherein the active material supplied to the inside of the frame is compressed.

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